The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-08-12
THEY ARE GUILTY.

Il
The long trial of the Chicago boodler
which has dragged itself out through fiv'
weeks and two days came to close yes
terday. The result is one that lovers o
honest and good government will hal
with satisfaction. There was some feal
that this gang of political sharks which
carried on its plotlings and stealings sc
boldly, had secured power over ever
the courts, but the verdict of yesterday
shows that it is still possible to get just,
ice in Chicago. Briefly stated the jury
finds the entire gang guilty, and seven
OF them 60 to the penitentiary for two
years and the others are fined 81 900
each. The story of the way the verdict
was received is well told in the following
press telegram:
CHIcxEo, III, Ang b--Abont q. n,clnek
information was received that the jury
in the boodler cases had reached con-
clusion. Instantly the court room was
in connection, while the people in the
corridors and on the sidewalks were on
the tIp-toe of expectation. The defend
ants, some pale and nervous, others
staggering and defiant, stepped to their
row of black chairs just as the jurors en-
tered, and the loud buzz of excited con-
versation ceased with startling sudden
ness. All of the jury studiously avoided
looking in the direction of the accused,
and the latter, after an eager glance or
two, adopted similar tactics. The faces
of the talesmen were ominously grave.
When the verdict was handed in and the
clerk with trembling voice announced
one after another of the entire II guilty,
the defendants seemed rooted to the
spot, the very embodiment of despair.
Then began the list of penalties: Com
missioner McLaughrey, two years"
There was start of surprise among the
spectators. The extreme penalty of law
was three years and fine of 81 600.
Nothing less had been expected by the
great majority of those present.
Commissioner 0chs, two years." read
the clerk, and the defendants began to
look up. Commissioners Leyden, Van
Pelt, Wren, Wasserman, Warden and
Varnell all got two years, and every one
looked measurably relieved except
Wren. He turned his head, and seemed
utterly dazed. The crowd was now pre-
pared for any surprise, and it came
speedily in the statement, .Commis-
sioners Mccarthy, Oliver, Casselman
and Cells, a fine of 81 ,OO0."
A look of unmistakable exultation took
possession of the countenance of Buck
Mccarthy, the burly commissioner, who
had throughout the trial and for months
previous been the most conspiciously
attacked of all the crowd.
Il move that the jury be polled,"
shouted the irrepressible Mccarthy. It'll
was done, and Immediately those of the
defendants who escaped with fine we're
released on bail. The others were re-
manded to jail. A motion for q new
trial for every one of the prisoners was
Immediately entered, and then the
crowd melted away from the court
room. -
The first two ballots of the jury were
on the question of the guilt. The first
ballot stood IL to in favor of convic-
ton, and the second ballot IL to 0 in
favor of conviction. Ballots were then
taken on the question of punishment.
The first ballot stood 8 for three years for
all; 2 for two years, and 81 900 fine. The
second ballot was the same. The third
ballot resulted in compromise and the
verdict as rendered.